Iceland has historically been seen as one of the most pristine, idealistic places on Earth. The island's economic collapse in 2007-2008 threw water on this perception, but it rebounded by prosecuting the bankers and essentially bailing out the people. It's safe to say that the country has regained its positive stereotype.
Not if you watch Olaf de Fleur's "Stóra planið" ("The Higher Force" in English), though. This movie depicts a debt collector. I'm talking one real lowlife. I've seen a number of movies from the Scandinavian countries - yes, I count Iceland in that number - which depict people's lives as lowly and miserable, or depict nasty individuals. This stands in sharp contrast to the stereotype of the Nordic countries as immaculate utopias. I suppose that there's bound to be something gritty below the surface.
About half the movie is in Icelandic, half in English, with a little bit of Chinese. Most of the cast won't be recognizable to US audiences, but Michael Imperioli of "The Sopranos" plays a supporting role. I guess that I recommend the movie as an alternate look at Iceland, beyond the stories of the economic meltdown and the images of geothermal springs. Not a great movie, but OK in a pinch. Ísland lifa að eilífu!
Not if you watch Olaf de Fleur's "Stóra planið" ("The Higher Force" in English), though. This movie depicts a debt collector. I'm talking one real lowlife. I've seen a number of movies from the Scandinavian countries - yes, I count Iceland in that number - which depict people's lives as lowly and miserable, or depict nasty individuals. This stands in sharp contrast to the stereotype of the Nordic countries as immaculate utopias. I suppose that there's bound to be something gritty below the surface.
About half the movie is in Icelandic, half in English, with a little bit of Chinese. Most of the cast won't be recognizable to US audiences, but Michael Imperioli of "The Sopranos" plays a supporting role. I guess that I recommend the movie as an alternate look at Iceland, beyond the stories of the economic meltdown and the images of geothermal springs. Not a great movie, but OK in a pinch. Ísland lifa að eilífu!